Ontario Canada

Biography of David Blain, LL. D.

David Blain, exmember of Parliament for the constituency of West York, Ont., is a native of Scotland, and was born on Brown Carrickhill, near Ayr, on the 15th of August, 1832. The Blain family were originally French, but sometime during the early wars between France and England, they settled on the border lands between Scotland and England, whence descendants have spread to different parts of the world. The grandfather of our subject spelled the name Blaine, and the final e is still retained by some branches of the family. David Blain was the fourth of six sons, his father being … Read more

Biography of Kenneth M.Chisholm, P.P

Kenneth Chisholm, of the firm of R. Chisholm and Co., member of the Ontario Legislature for the County of Peel, and one of the leading merchants in Brampton, is a descendant of an old Highland family, originally from Invernessshire, Scotland. His father, Alexander Chisholm, being born in the County of Glengarry, removed to Toronto township, in what is now the County of Peel, in 1818. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary McDonnell, was the daughter of a United Empire Loyalist, who moved from the State of New York to Glengarry at the time of the revolution. She drew lands … Read more

Biography of Gustavus William Wicksteed, Q. C.

Gustavus William Wicksteed, the present Head Clerk and Chief of the Legislative Department of the House of Commons, has held that office and a like one in the Legislative Assembly and of United Canada, and in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada as a first assistant, since 1841. He was born in Liverpool, England, December 21, 1799. His father, Richard Wicksteed, was a member of the Cheshire and Shropshire family of that name, and his mother, whose maiden name was Tatlock, was of a Lancashire family. Mr. Wicksteed came to Canada in 1821, by invitation of an uncle, the Hon. … Read more

Biography of John R. Dickson, M.D.

John Robinson Dickson, one of the leading surgeons in the Province of Ontario, and son of David and Isabella (Robinson)Dickson, was born in Dungannon, County of Tyrone, Ireland, November 15, 1819. David Dickson was a prominent merchant in Dungannon for many years. His oldest son, David Dickson, Jr., was Major of the 95th Regiment, and William Dickson, another son, was Surgeon in the British Navy for a long time. Our subject was educated at a Belfast Institution; read medicine with Dr. McLean, of Dungannon; came to Canada in 1837; attended lectures at the University of New York, and there received … Read more

Biography of Rev. John Thomson

The subject of this sketch was born in Norham, England, December ’31, 1834. Situated on the banks of the Tweed, the town is celebrated for the beauty of. its location, and it is also in the heart of one of the finest agricultural districts of Great Britain. Norham, like all the border land, is historic, and crowded with the memory of the olden time. Though but a small village, it stands on classic ground, and has its feudal castle, the ruins of which are still an object of interest to the traveler. The whole place has been glorified by the … Read more

Biography of John Tissiman

Among the middle aged men reared in Chatham, a witness of its growth, and long an official of the town, is John Tissiman, who was born in Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, August 9, 1834, and came with his parents, Joseph and Edith (Teller) Tissiman, to. Chatham in 1837. Both parents were from Yorkshire, England. Joseph Tissiman was in the mercantile and brewing business here until his death in 1846. He left his wife and three children in moderate circumstances, the widow died about ten years after her husband. John was educated in the common school at Chatham; was an … Read more

Biography of Horatio C. Burritt, M. D.

Horatio Charles Burritt, son of Walter H. Burritt, M. D., and Maria nee Schofield, was born at Smith’s Falls, County of Lanark, Ontario, September 2, 1840. His grandfather, Daniel Burritt, was the first settler at Burritt’s Rapids on the Rideau river, the place being, named from him. He was a United Empire Loyalist, born in Connecticut, and was the second settler on the river mentioned above. He was a magistrate and Colonel of Militia. The family are remotely related to Elihu Burritt, the “learned blacksmith,” who died in 1879. Dr. Walter H. Burritt was born in September, 1809, in Grenville, … Read more

Biography of John T. Leckie

John Luckie, banker and reeve of the village of Brussels, is a son of Robert and Margaret (Gardner) Leckie, and was born in the township of Dalhousie, county of Lanark, June 27, 1834. His grandfather, John Leckie, came from Scotland and settled in that township something like sixty years ago, and died in the county of Lambton, near Sarnia, three or four years ago, at the advanced age of 95 years, his wife dying a little earlier, aged 93 years. In the early youth of our subject, school houses in the greater part of the county of Lanark, were few … Read more

Biography of George Watson

George Watson; Collector of Customs at Collingwood, was born near Aberdeen, Scotland, December 2,1828. He lost his mother when about six years old. In 1836 the remainder of the family, father and two sisters, immigrated to Upper Canada, settling on a farm in the Township of Chinguacousy, twenty miles from Toronto. George finished his education at a grammar school in Toronto; continued on the farm until 1855; then became a passenger conductor on the Northern Railway, and was in that position between eleven and twelve years, his home being at Collingwood. He left the road on account of ill health … Read more

Biography of Richard H. Oates

Prominent among the names of the pioneer settlers of Toronto, or “York Pioneers,” as they are now termed, is that which heads this sketch. His birth and life up to the age of eight were rather eventful. Some little time after the marriage of his parents, his father being commander of a merchant vessel, they started for the West Indies, and on their return trip to London were obliged to put into Belfast, the 27th of July, 1809, on which day Richard was born. In 1810 Richard accompanied his father and mother to Malta. Coming out of the Mediterranean sea, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Vicar-General Laurent Jouvent

Laurent Jouvent, son of Joseph Jouvent, farmer and miller, and Louise Aubert, was born at Vallserres H. Alps, France, March 17, 1829. He was educated in the sciences at the Seminary of Embrun, France; studied theology at Jap in the same district; was ordained Priest June 19, 1853; was appointed Parish Priest of Aspremont, and eighteen months afterwards was called to the Vicarage of the Cathedral of Jap, leaving the latter place in 1857, and arriving at Ottawa on the 11th of December of that year. The next June he was appointed Priest of St. Phillip, Chatham, Province of Quebec; … Read more

Biography of Henry H. Collier

Henry Haight Collier, Collector of Customs at St. Catharines, was born in Howard, Steuben County, N. Y., November 28, 1818. His father, Richard Collier, was from Green County, in the same State. His grandfather, Isaac Collier, and his great-grandfather were originally from England. His mother, Mary, nee Haight, was of Holland extraction. In 1835, our subject came to St. Catharines, where his elder brother, Richard Collier, resided, and spent two years in study at the grammar school; then returned to Steuben County, read law in Bath, at first with Edward Howell, and subsequently with Hammond and Campbell, the latter, Hon. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John M. Lawder

John Marjoribanks Lawde Et, late Judge of the County of Lincoln, dates his birth at Greenock, Scotland, August 16, 1824, his parents being John Lawder, Custom House officer at Greenock, and Jane Hervey, a native of Glasgow. Both died while he was young, and in 1837, an orphan boy, he came to Upper Canada, having completed his school studies before leaving the old country. He studied law at Toronto with Robert Hervey, now of Chicago; was called to the Bar at Hilary term, February, 1845; practiced at Niagara a little more than twenty-two years; was appointed county attorney and clerk … Read more

Biography of Daniel Mackenzie

One of the oldest and most substantial merchants in Sarnia, county of Lambton, is Daniel Mackenzie, who has been in business here more than thirty years, and has weathered every financial storm. He is a native of the village of Campbelltown, parish of Ardersier, Inverness-shire, Scotland, and was born on the 4th of March, 1828. His parents were John and Margaret (Cameron) Mackenzie, his father being a druggist. Both families, were military. Daniel received a parish school education; lost his father about 1833, and in 1843 came to Canada with his mother and two sisters locating at London, where he … Read more

Biography of Nathan Choate

One of the highest authorities on agricultural and horticultural matters in the Township of Hope, is Nathan Choate, many years a member of the Council of Agriculture in the Province of Ontario. He is a son of Jacob Choate, farmer and lumber merchant, who was born in the Shaker town of Enfield, N. H., moved to Glandford, Upper Canada, in 1798, and a little later to the Township of Hamilton, County of Northumberland, where our subject was born, March 9, 1805. Seven years later the family removed to the Township of Hope, County of Durham. Nathan picked up such an … Read more

Biography of Duncan McLarty, M.D.

One of the best educated and most successful physicians and surgeons in the county of Elgin is Dr. McLarty, who took more than ordinary pains to prepare himself for his profession. He is a son of Duncan McLarty, senior, who came from Scotland with an uncle when quite young, and became a farmer in the county of Elgin, where our subject was born on the 3rd of February 1839. The maiden name of his mother was Sarah McIntyre, who was also of Scotch birth. Dr. McLarty received a grammar school education; taught four or five years in his native county, … Read more

Biography of Orlando S. Strange, M.D.

Orlando Sampson Strange, one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Kingston, and a native of this city, was born June 13, 1826, his father being John Strange, of Glasgow, Scotland, and for several years a merchant at Kingston. His mother was Mary McGill, who was born in Albany, N. Y., and was of Scotch descent. The subject of this sketch supplemented a grammar school course of education with two years at Queen’s College; studied medicine with Dr. James Sampson, of Kingston; attended lectures at the University of New York, in 1847-1849, and there received the degree of M.D., in … Read more

Biography of Hon. Arthur S. Hardy

Arthur Sturgis Hardy, member of the Ontario Parliament and Provincial Secretary and Registrar, is a son of Russell and Juletta (Sturgis) Hardy, and was born at Mount Pleasant, County of Brant, December 14, 1837, both parents being descended of United Empire Loyalists. Russell Hardy, formerly a merchant in Brantford, is a native of Canada as was also Mr. A. S. Hardy’s mother. Both families came to Canada nearly one hundred years ago. Our subject was educated in the Brant County Grammar School, and at Rockwood Academy, near Guelph; studied law at Brantford and afterwards completed his studies in Toronto under … Read more

Biography of John Nichol, M.D.

John Nichol, a practicing physician and surgeon in Listowel for the last eighteen years, dates his birth in Glasgow, Scotland, November 16, 1822. His father was Hugh Nichol, manufacturer, and at one period a British soldier, a member of the 71st regiment, receiving a wound at the Battle of Waterloo. His mother’s maiden name was Mary Caldwell, who died when he was about eight years of age. He was educated at a parish school; came to Canada with the family in 1843, and his father took up 200 acres of land in the township of Peel, county of Wellington; but … Read more

Biography of Hermon H. Cook

Among the prominent and successful business men of Ontario, none presents an example of greater energy, enterprise and propriety, than the subject of this brief memoir, Hermon Henry Cook. As a representative of the lumbering interests of the Province, being one of the most extensive dealers in that important branch of Canadian industry, he is fairly entitled to rank among the leading citizens of Ontario. His name is also well and favorably known as an ex-Member of Parliament, and at present a Member of the Provincial House. He is descended on both sides from U. E. Loyalists, his grandfather George … Read more